Dazzling Spirit continues on upward curve

Jamie Powell and Tom Mullins have struck up a successful association this term and in particular with Dazzling Spirit who scored for the third time in just over six weeks when taking the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap at Leopardstown.

The daughter of Fulbright started off her winning burst on a lowly rating of 46 at Clonmel last month and was again on the mark at Killarney earlier this week.

The 9/1 shot got a daring run up the inner early in the straight and reeled in the front-running Bobby Dassler over 100 yards out before going on to beat that rival by a length and three-quarters. Trueba was another three quarters of a length back in third with Fastman completing the places in fourth.

Mullins said, “During the summer jockeys were coming in saying she needed a little bit further but she just wouldn't let herself down on the ground. On the soft ground now she's letting herself down and she's getting quicker, that's why I took a chance coming back to seven.

“At home she's very speedy and her half-sister Powersville was a five or six furlong mare. She had it won at seven in Killarney last Monday so we took a chance.

“She'll go to Galway now for a seven-furlong handicap and that might see her out for the season.”

Quotes by Gary Carson